Revisiting clinical trials on glycemic control and cardiovascular risk

The most relevant clinical trials, assessing the role of glycemic control in reducing cardiovascular risk, are examined. The UKPDS was the first to address this issue. More recent trials (ACCORD, ADVANCE and VADT) are controversial and evidences did not support that strict glycemic control (reflected by normal glycated hemoglobin) exclusively is sufficient to reduce cardiovascular risk in complicated individuals with long-term type 2 diabetes mellitus. Some possible reasons for controversies are included

A first update on mapping the human genetic architecture of COVID-19

peer reviewe

Usage of earth observation for solar energy market development - lessons learnt

Within the Earth Observation Market Development (EOMD) program of the European Space Agency (ESA) the ENVISOLAR project aims at an intensified usage of earth observation based information products in the solar energy industries. Existing services for investment decision, plant management, load forecasting, and science and consulting rely on high quality surface solar irradiance measurements and reliable processing chains to deliver such information regularly. Requirements for earth observation data as well as blockages preventing their use have been identified. In consequence, existing data processing chains are analyzed as to their conformity with the needs of the solar industry. The paper focuses on how earth observation itself can contribute to the market development of solar energy technologies. Issues like quality of irradiance data for planning and managing solar energy systems, reliability and availability of earth observation information, requirements as to temporal, spatial and spectral resolution of earth observation data, and the cost-effectiveness of satellite based information compared to maintenance costs for a large set of on-site measurement devices are addressed

[Weight gain rate in early childhood and overweight in children 5-11 years old in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil].

Overweight children are more prone to become overweight or obese adults. The most effective prevention is intervention in early childhood. We analyzed the association between early weight gain and overweight/obesity in 1,056 children under 11 years of age. Data were collected on lifestyle, sanitation, socioeconomic status, birth weight, and breastfeeding. Weight gain from birth until different age brackets ( 12 to 18, > 18 to 24, and > 24 to 60 months) was considered a continuous variable in z-scores. Overweight was defined as body mass index (BMI) > +1 z-score, based on 2006 and 2007 World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Poisson regression and linear regression were used in the multivariate statistical analysis. Weight gain rate was associated with BMI, and overweight or obesity in the 5-11-year age bracket increased twofold for each unit increase in the weight gain standard deviation between 24 and 60 months of age (RR = 2.08; 95%CI: 1.87-2.32). For all early childhood age brackets, there was an association between rapid weight gain and subsequent overweight or obesity

Mapping Neutralizing and Immunodominant Sites on the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Receptor-Binding Domain by Structure-Guided High-Resolution Serology

Analysis of the specificity and kinetics of neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) elicited by SARS-CoV-2 infection is crucial for understanding immune protection and identifying targets for vaccine design. In a cohort of 647 SARS-CoV-2-infected subjects, we found that both the magnitude of Ab responses to SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) and nucleoprotein and nAb titers correlate with clinical scores. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) is immunodominant and the target of 90% of the neutralizing activity present in SARS-CoV-2 immune sera. Whereas overall RBD-specific serum IgG titers waned with a half-life of 49 days, nAb titers and avidity increased over time for some individuals, consistent with affinity maturation. We structurally defined an RBD antigenic map and serologically quantified serum Abs specific for distinct RBD epitopes leading to the identification of two major receptor-binding motif antigenic sites. Our results explain the immunodominance of the receptor-binding motif and will guide the design of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics